The much-anticipated release of Thalapathy Vijay's final film, Jana Nayagan, has been thrown into disarray due to an ongoing standoff with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Despite a Madras High Court order, the film's certification remains in limbo, forcing the producer to publicly address the issue and apologize to the star's legion of fans.
Producer's Emotional Appeal and Timeline of Events
In a detailed video message posted on the official Instagram handle of KVN Productions on Friday night, producer Venkat K Narayana laid out the sequence of events that led to the current crisis. He clarified that while the matter is sub judice, certain facts needed to be placed on record for the public.
Narayana stated that the film was submitted to the CBFC on December 18, 2025. The examining committee viewed it and, on December 22, communicated that a U/A 16+ certificate would be granted subject to a few changes. The team promptly incorporated all suggested modifications and resubmitted the film, expecting a smooth path to release.
However, the formal certificate never arrived. The situation took a dramatic turn just days before the planned Pongal holiday release. "On the evening of January 5, we were informed that the film had been referred to the revising committee based on a single complainant," Narayana explained. With no information on the complainant's identity and time critically short, the makers were compelled to seek legal recourse.
Legal Rollercoaster and Industry Backlash
The legal battle has been a whirlwind. After hearings on January 6 and 7, a single-judge bench of the Madras High Court directed the CBFC on Friday morning to issue the U/A 16+ certificate. This relief was short-lived. A division bench led by Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava temporarily stayed this order later the same day.
The court has now adjourned the matter for further hearing on January 21, effectively shattering the producers' plans for a Pongal release and casting a long shadow of uncertainty over the film's future.
This incident has sparked significant criticism of the CBFC from within the film industry. Veteran filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma took to social media platform X to label the censor board as "outdated." He argued that in an era of unfiltered content on social media, the CBFC's focus on cutting words or blurring cigarettes in films is ineffective and irrelevant.
An Apology and a Plea for Vijay's Legacy
Addressing the widespread disappointment, producer Venkat K Narayana issued a heartfelt apology. "We sincerely apologise to our audiences, distributors, exhibitors, and all other stakeholders who stood by us during this difficult period," he said. He emphasized that the team made every possible effort to release the film as scheduled, but the developments were beyond their control.
Concluding his emotional address, Narayana underscored the film's significance as Vijay's farewell project. "Above all, we firmly believe that Thalapathy Vijay sir deserves the farewell he has earned through decades of love from his fans and the respect of the industry," he stated. The producer expressed faith in the judicial process and hope for an early resolution.
Notably, Jana Nayagan is not the only Tamil film to face certification issues ahead of Pongal. Sivakarthikeyan's Parasakthi was also denied a certificate until Friday afternoon, eventually receiving a UA 16+ rating with 25 cuts, allowing for a last-minute release.
